Sharing what I have learned from what I have read: A blog by Joe Abittan
In his book Chasing The Scream, Johann Hari writes about common misconceptions related to drug violence in the United States. Misconceptions influence drug policy, shape the way people think about drug crimes and drug users, and prevent us from taking real action to help reduce the conflicts and negative externalities related to the American war … Continue reading Drug Related Violence
"Its a natural human instinct to turn our fears into symbols, and destroy the symbols, in the hope that it will destroy the fear," writes Johann Hari in his book Chasing the Scream. Hari writes this to explain the ways in which American culture has responded to drug use and addiction. We have demonized drugs … Continue reading Fears and Symbols
In my last few posts I have written about Johann Hari's research into Harry Anslinger, the nation's first Commissioner for the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, and what Hari learned about Anslinger and the start of the nation's war on drugs. Anslinger held deeply racist views which he channeled into propaganda and drug policy in the … Continue reading A Condescending Impulse
An idea that Johann Hari explores in his book Chasing The Scream is that people with drug addiction need family and community support to get through their addiction, not punishment and castigation. Throughout the book Hari asks why people develop addictions, what do people do when they successfully get past an addiction, and what structures … Continue reading Punishment Versus Compassion
My last post was about Harry Anslinger's racist views and how they influenced public policy. I wanted to focus on what we could learn from his mistakes, and how we could think about our own policy positions given the terrors we have seen in the past from biased policy positions, confirmation bias, and believing things … Continue reading A Racist Start to the Drug War
In his book Chasing the Scream, Johann Hari writes about Harry Anslinger, the Nation's first commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics. Anslinger was a staunch anti-drug crusader, but he also held deeply racist views which came to influence his opinions about drug use and national policy related to specific drugs. In many ways, it … Continue reading On the Dangers of Racially Motivated Public Policy
To open his book Chasing The Scream, author Johann Hari tells a story about Harry Anslinger and the fragility of civilization. Anslinger was the first commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, and sparked the war on drugs in the United States. As a young child, Hari explains, Anslinger was at a farm house where … Continue reading Harry Anslinger and the Fragility of Civilization
In his book The Opioid Crisis Wake-Up Call, Dave Chase quotes Dan Munro by writing, "The [healthcare] system was never broken, it was designed this way." I'm a fan of Debbie Millman's podcast, Design Matters. When we are making something that other people will use and engage with, it is important to think about … Continue reading Design Matters – Healthcare Edition
Medicaid simply doesn't pay enough for many medical providers to make a profit. The reimbursement rates often cover only fixed costs, and don't really cover the full operating costs of a service. Medicare pays slightly better, usually covering operating costs and sometimes providing just enough for a small profit. Private insurance, however, pays a lot … Continue reading Healthcare Profit and Subsidization
A common complaint about healthcare in the United States is that it has traditionally operated on a fee for service (FFS) based model. It is a natural and easy to understand system, and generally the type of system that both patients and providers prefer. The idea is that you pay for the services you receive … Continue reading Value in Healthcare